I just watched the Aussi Grand Prix practice on the
Speed Channel.
That is the dumbest rear wing ever mounted on a race car.
It is near pure drag. A total waste of fuel. Really stupid.

They should of used a piece of plywood mounted perpendicular
to the air stream. It would have done as well.

Paul Lamar

I agree...the whole car is an excercise in ugly...

Ron

Congratulations to the Honda engineers for wining the Australian
Gran Prix first and second. Now called the Brawn team. Congratulations
to the drivers as well.

The Mercedes engine must have been the key as they did so poorly last year
with the Honda engine. I always thought Honda was very good when it came
to engines. Either that or the 2009 Honda car is a great leap forward.

The only passing that I saw was when the mandatory extra soft tires
went away after a couple of hot laps. That also led to a crash or
two IMHO. Time will tell if the rear wing will help passing. I doubt
it.

The low wide front wing is too vulnerable so they
need to mount one up high on the front of the car feeding the loads
directly into the hub carriers like we did on Ron Grable's car
at Mid Ohio. That would allow a conventional, more streamlined and better
looking nose. I had no trouble designing, manufacturing and making suspension
mounted wings work on dozens of race cars back in the early 1970's. The current
Formula 1 engineers can do it too. I'll help if they ask. The car will ride
and corner better over the bumps with softer springs. They have got to get
rid of that silly rear wing.

The first two pictures are of Ron's car after we were forced to mount
the wings on the chassis. The third picture is of Ron sitting on the left front
tire with the high mounted front wing to his right. Sorry Ron about your
head being cut off but the picture was damaged somehow. These are all
I have. Do you have any better pictures you can scan and send me

Paul Lamar

Dear Paul:

I am worried when I see photographs of the high-mounted front wing on Ron's car.
Especially if the front wing changed its angle of attack (a planned, not unplanned,
change), would it not block the driver's view forward Even though that might
have shielded the drivers in the Australian Grand Prix from the setting sun,
it might block their view of Andrea De Caeseris Jr., crashing his car right
in front of them (a little Formula 1 humor there). :-)

Does the high-mounted wing block the driver's view

Les Nordman :-)

No worries mate. He could see under it fine. It is about 2 feet above the body.
No problem. Right Ron :) Ron qualified 2nd behind Sam Posey in a field
of 33 cars as I recall. Most of the Lola's, which was about half the field,
had my rear wings on them. Sam had the latest 13 inch dia. wheel Surtees TS8
and everyone else was running 15". David Hobbs was in this race with a McLaren.

Here is a picture of me adjusting one of my wings taken by Pete Lyons.
The program cover picture is of John Cannon talking to Stirling Moss.
John died in a VariEze crash after departing SZP.

This appears to be the over all results for several years and Ron
won his share of races.
http://jpgleize.club.fr/gp/us5mod.htm

I think there may be a mistake or two as it shows Ron in a Lola
and he may have been driving the American at the time.

Here is a movie of a Formula A race In St. Jovite 1969 with
a lot of my suspension mounted rear wings.
http://www.youtube.com/watchv=-xiuXp1UwSM&feature=related

Paul Lamar

Paul,

The front wing on the "American" F5000 car didn't feed the
loads into the hub carriers, but into the nose section.
I never drove a F5000 with the front wing mounted to the uprights.

See attached, which is the same configuration as Mid-Ohio.

Ron

Thanks Ron. So that was after they forced us to mount the rear wing
on the chassis. I could have put it on the front hub carriers no problem
for me. You are getting some lateral G's there. Look at the distortion
in the outside rear tire.

I was confused exactly what year it was we had to move
the rear wing down to the chassis. In Formula A you can see over it but in
Formula 1 it might have to be higher so they can see under it.

Thanks a bunch that is a rare and good photo.
Maybe I can get these Formula 1 aero weenies straightened out
but I doubt it :)

BTW have you heard from Root Beer lately If so tell him I said hello.

Paul Lamar

Paul,
Is that the same John Cannon that won the Can-Am at Laguna in a torrential downpour
He was from Canada IIRC. He beat the might of the McLaren and Porsche teams in
an 8 year old McLaren with the perfect set of rain tires. Gave everyone there a
driving lesson! If it is the same man I am sorry to hear of his VariEasy misfortune.
(Sad in any case.)My Dad and I made all the original Laguna Can-Am events. They were
very fond memories of my youth. Also I might add that was when the races were run by
"real men" in awesome(correct use of the adjective) machinery that was a gas to watch!
Political correctness be dammed. Our favorite position at the old Laguna when the race
started was on the hill above the uphill straight leading to the Corkscrew. When the
announcer told all to, "start engines" you could FEEL it from 1/2 mile away! Ah the
REALLY good old days. The hair on the back of your neck would stand up as you waited
for about a million HP to be released for the dash up the hill.
Bill Jepson

Yep. He stayed in my hangar apartment the night before he left.
Mazda could bring it all back with just one rule. It must be a 3 rotor.
I think an unlimited turbo 3 rotor car could smoke off the F1 cars
big time with one tenth the expense and suspension mounted wings.
Those were the good old days.  Can Am was run what you brung.

Paul Lamar